GM Quader, the deputy opposition leader in parliament, has said that there is uncertainty and a lack of clarity over the government’s plan to procure Covid-19 vaccines.
“But we still don’t know for sure when and where we will get vaccines…. We're just hearing the words of hope over vaccines,” he said while participating in the discussion over the supplementary budget of 2020-21 fiscal year in the parliament on Monday.
GM Quader, also the chairman of the Jatiya Party (JaPa), said the finance minister in his budget speech mentioned that the government took measures to bring some 80% of the population in Bangladesh under the vaccination coverage and some 2.5 million shots will be given a month.
“If so, three crore doses of vaccines can be given in a year. And then it would take five years in case of giving one-dose vaccine and 10 years in case of two doses to each person for bringing 80% of the population under the inoculation coverage,” he said.
The JaPa leader sought an answer from the finance minister over what would be the condition of the country’s economy, lives and livelihood, if it takes five to 10 years to complete the vaccination program to ensure herd immunity in the country.
He said many developed countries are bringing the most of their population under the vaccination coverage and many non-developed countries also made good progress in it.
“But we live in uncertainty over the Covid vaccines. The finance minister should make a statement in parliament where vaccines will come from,” he said.
Talking about the proposed national budget, he said there is no plan to generate employment for the lower-class and middle-class people, rather there is a proposal to reduce corporate tax to satisfy the rich and make them richer.
He said some experts remarked that it is a budget for the businessmen, by the businessmen, and for the businessmen.
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“We definitely want a business and industry-friendly budget. But we simultaneously require specific economic plans for the development of the economic condition of the people from the low and middle classes, which remain missing in this budget,” said GM Quader.
About the health sector, the JaPa chairman said some Tk32,731 crore has been kept in the proposed budget for the health sector, which is only 0.83% of GDP. But the WHO suggested the allocation should be 4%-5% of GDP, he said.
“We should have allocated at least 2% of the GDP for the health sector amid this pandemic,” said the deputy opposition leader, adding that the country’s economy would be vibrant again if the corona can be checked.
Even the fund allocated for the health sector is being misused due to corruption. But none get punished for irregularities, he said.
Referring to journalist Rozina Islam’s recent arrest GM Quader said a journalist was harassed and tortured a few days ago and a case was filed against her. Now a rumour is spreading that sedition charges will be brought against her.
He said the journalists should be allowed to carry out their responsibility, which will help curb corruption.
Turning to education, the GM Quader said that students are not being able to attend their schools and colleges for a long time.
If the pandemic lasts for five more years, Bangladesh will head towards having an illiterate generation, he added.
